Breakfast

Every Sunday morning I enjoy breakfast with some friends at the local Bob's Big Boy. I enjoy their buffet and like being able to read my Sunday paper in peace and leave it there for others. I am usually up by 8:30 and out the door by 9ish.

This Sunday, I awoke late and lazed about checking emails and Twitter and such, and wondering why even tho I knew I was late, I didn't rush to leave. I knew the friends I usually see there would be gone by the time I got there, but still I took my sweet time. Around 10:30 I finally got the urge to shower and leave.

I get to the restaurant and of course all my regulars are either leaving or have left. But I continue in to read my paper and enjoy my breakfast. After getting myself settled in, I hear behind me a family being seated and opening up their newspaper. You can hear an audible gasp and the a woman saying "That one, that's where our house was" as she points to this picture in the LA Times.

picture of the Oakridge Mobile Home Park - from L.A.Times

It was then that I knew why I was late. I surreptitiously eavesdropped on their conversation, hearing woes and worries about not only themselves but their neighbors and friends who may not have made it out.

When I left, my breakfast was much more expensive this week than others, but I hope my small little gesture, makes their burden a tiny bit easier.

Twittering the Fires

The past 36 hours have been spent in s smoky haze, literally:

@Dreamented lost his house to the Sylmar fire

@Sweatpantsmom finally got her elderly Father in Law to agree to evacuate his home at 2am Friday night as Palm Trees were lit like candle sticks on his street.

@Queenofspain is packed and ready to go just in case.

@Socalmom has evacuated for the second time in a month.

@GoDOTchris and @Onetake evacuated as soon as their exit ramp was closed, they weren't taking any chances.

Many many others have been adversly affected by these horrible fires. It has been nice to have an online community to commiserate with during this catastrophe.